Aim: To investigate the effect of carvacrol on chemical carcinogenesis, cancer cell proliferation and platelet aggregation, and to find possible correlation between all these processes and the antioxidant properties of carvacrol.
Materials and methods: 3,4-benzopyrene-induced carcinogenesis model using Wistar rats was used. Leiomyosarcoma cells from Wistar rats were used to study carvacrol antiproliferative activity in vitro. The carvacrol antiplatelet properties were investigated with platelet aggregation assay and flow cytometry technique. The production of thromboxane B2, final metabolite of platelet aggregation, was evaluated by radioimmunoassay.
Results: Our study revealed significant anticarcinogenic properties of carvacrol. We observed 30% decrease of 3,4 benzopyrene carcinogenic activity in vivo. Antiproliferative activity of carvacrol (IC(50)) was 90 microM and 67 microM for 24 h and 48 h of incubation of cells, respectively. Carvacrol possessed also mild antiplatelet effect, inducing the decrease of thromboxane A2 production in platelets and as a result - restrictive expression of the GPIIb/IIIa platelet receptor.
Conclusion: Our data demonstrated that carvacrol possesses anticarcinogenic, antiproliferative and antiplatelet properties.